THE VIEW
IS THERE REALLY A PLACE FOR PARTY HOLES IN GOLF?
T
here’s no questioning its popularity,
though one can’t help but wonder
whether the annual gathering at TPC
Scottsdale’s 16th hole is good for the game. Or
if it even has anything to do with golf at all.
As happens every February when the
Phoenix Open rolls around, we are repeatedly
told during television coverage what a
refreshing change it is to have this ‘party hole’ in
a sport that is widely perceived as too staid and
buttoned up.
Forgive me for taking a counter view, but I
would suggest that what goes on at the 148
metre par-3 has nothing to do with the game
and everything to do with mob behaviour.
Kudos to the organisers of the Waste
Management Phoenix Open for hosting the most
well attended tournament on the PGA schedule.
But let’s not pretend the event, or the 16th hole
more particularly, is promoting the game.
On the surface it would be easy to fall for the
notion what happens at the 16th is an exuberant
celebration of everything that is good about golf.
The reality, however, is somewhat different.
Boorish would be a more appropriate descriptor
for much of the behaviour which more closely
resembles a frat party than a sporting event.
Each year there are dozens of arrests
and complaints about harassment from
players and fellow tournament goers alike are
commonplace.
What started as a natural gathering place for
fans around the amphitheatre green, featuring
some good-natured heckling of poor shots and
raucous cheering for good ones, has morphed
into a contrived stadium which now houses
more than 20,000 people, many of whom have
over indulged in alcohol.
If any of those who line up from the early
hours of the morning to be part of the crowd at
16 are golf fans it would be a surprise.
In fact, it would be a surprise if any genuine
golf fan would want to be a part of it.
Thankfully, attempts in Australia to replicate
the party hole have been largely unsuccessful
and it is to be hoped that it stays that way.
What started as ‘fun’ has descended into
‘farce’ and, like many others, I don’t believe
there is a place for it in the game. E
ROD MORRI is an award-winning
writer and podcast presenter. He
hosts The iseekgolf.com Podcast
weekly. CLICK here to listen.